Police Watchman Henry PEARSON (-)

31 Jul 1820
Greenock Burgh Police

Watchman Pearson died when he was shot by drunken soldiers as he went to the aid of Watchman Robert Simpson who had been shot whilst trying to calm them down.

Just before midnight on Saturday 30th July 1820 a group of seven soldiers from the 13th Regiment of Foot, stationed at Greenock were in their lodgings above a public house in Shennans Close Greenock, near to the harbour. They had all been drinking and went outside, apparently looking for trouble. They found it in the shape of a group of sailors who were nearby. As is often the way, one word borrowed another and a scuffle ensued.

What happened next depends on who you believe. The soldiers claimed to have been set upon by a larger group of sailors and locals who chased them back indoors, forcing them to bar the door to save themselves. Others swore that the drunken soldiers had been on the rampage, beating everyone in their path and had in fact dragged one man into the pub and given him a severe beating with fists, feet and a candlestick. He was eventually found bleeding and battered under a table in the pub by the police.

The screams of this poor wretch, and calls for help by the landlord and his wife certainly attracted a crowd, including John McCorquindale, a Ships Pilot and Special Constable who demanded entrance. Fearing the crowd would break open the door, the soldiers retreated upstairs to their lodgings where they loaded muskets and began firing from the windows. This didn’t seem to deter the rescuers until one of their number, a young sailor named Archibald Morrison fell, mortally wounded by a shot to his abdomen.

At this point, Police Watchman Robert Simpson approached and tried to reason with the soldiers. He identified himself but was told in no uncertain terms to leave. Simpson explained that he was an ex-serviceman and would ensure no harm came to them. They shot him where he stood.

Police Watchman Henry Pearson had responded to the sounds of a disturbance and gunfire, arriving just in time to see his colleague fall. He shouted to the gathered crowd for assistance and ran to his colleague’s aid, straight into a volley fired from the soldiers’ lodgings.

In the meantime, the Guard had been called out and after having to return for their firearms gained entry to the premises. They found the culprits in various stages of inebriation and, with some difficulty, took them into custody before handing them over to the civil authorities.

Archibald Morrison, Watchman Robert Simpson and Watchman Henry Pearson all died from their wounds.

On 7th November 1820 the seven soldiers were tried for Murder at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. Five were found not guilty or not proven, but two were convicted of the murders of Simpson and Pearson and were sentence to be executed. One subsequently had his sentence commuted to ‘transportation for life’, the other was hanged on 13th December and his body was sent for dissection. ‘The spectators were not numerous. The morning was extremely cold’.

Police Watchmen Robert Simpson and Henry Pearson were both family men, their names are etched on the walls of the Scottish Police Memorial and will never be forgotten.

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